June 25, 2026

The U.S. hog herd is smaller than pre-report expectations. The USDA says the swine inventory on June 1st, 2026 was 73.664 million head, slightly below June 1st, 2025 when many analysts had been expecting a 1% increase. The breeding herd was near to pre-report estimates, declining 1% on the year to 5.88 million head, while […] The post U.S. hog inventory dips over past year appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

A central Iowa farmer says breaking into agriculture isn’t easy for young producers, but it can be done. Corey Hillebo raises corn, soybeans, and wean to finish hogs in Polk City… “I’m a fifth-generation farmer and it seems like you have to almost be born into it,” he said. “But that’s not completely the truth.” […] The post Young farmers can succeed despite challenges, Iowa producer says appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

Pork producers continue to look for ways to mitigate swine disease threats. Iowa State University Extension swine field specialist Colin Johnson says there are many management strategies for viruses like PRRS (porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome). “Whether that’s biosecurity, whether that’s herd rollovers to naive animals, vaccine strategies and medications. Even some genetic possibilities that […] The post PRRS remains major hurdle for pork industry despite management advances appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

The vice president of public affairs with The Mosaic Company says current countervailing duties on Moroccan and Russian fertilizers are critical to U.S. phosphate production. Ben Pratt tells Brownfield, “We strongly believe that those duties are still necessary and the duties have not imposed a tax on U.S. farmers.”  He says, “The simple way to […] The post Mosaic maintains support for phosphate countervailing duties appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

The CEO of the Iowa Pork Producers Association is dismayed that Proposition 12 language was not included in the Senate Ag Committee draft farm bill.  “Very, very, very disappointed.” That was Pat McGonegle’s reaction to Senate Ag Committee chair John Boozman omitting Prop 12 from the text. He tells Brownfield Iowa Pork will keep applying […] The post “Very, very, very disappointed”: Iowa Pork CEO reacts to Prop 12 omission appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story

Technology is helping shape modern pork production. Iowa State University Animal Science Department chair Jason Ross says the pork industry is leaning into innovation. “Those can really help a producer or farmer drill into specific things (like) how do I manage my business differently? How do I manage technology in the barns, whether it’s bin […] The post Technology drives new era of efficiency for pork producers appeared first on Brownfield Ag News. View Full Story